Technologies for sanitizing medical devices

Abstract

Technologies for sanitizing medical devices are described. In particular, sanitizing systems, components of sanitizing systems, and methods for sanitizing medical devices such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment are described. In embodiments, the sanitizing systems include a sanitizing gas generator and a base including at least one exhaust port and a filter.

What is claimed, is: 
     
         1 . A sanitizing system, comprising:
 a base including an opening to a sanitizing chamber, the sanitizing chamber comprising at least one exhaust port;   a lid configured to transition from an open lid position to a closed lid position, wherein the lid is configured to extend across the opening to the sanitizing chamber when the lid is in the closed position;   a sanitizing gas generator configured to generate a sanitizing gas, the sanitizing gas generator located within the base;   a primary fan or pump configured to push or draw at least a portion of the sanitizing gas through a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) hose to the sanitizing chamber in the base; and   a secondary fan or pump configured to push or draw gas within the sanitizing chamber through the at least one exhaust port and outside of the sanitizing chamber when the lid is in the closed lid position;   wherein the primary fan or pump and the secondary fan or pump are both co-located within the base.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary fan or pump is configured to push or draw the gas within the sanitizing chamber through a filter. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the filter is a filter cartridge comprising a shell and a filter media housed within the shell, the shell comprising a filter inlet and a filter outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the secondary fan or pump is located downstream of said filter outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the secondary fan or pump is located upstream of said filter inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a filter detection sensor configured to detect said filter and output a filter detection signal; and   a controller configured to permit or prevent generation of said sanitizing gas based at least in part on said filter detection signal.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the base comprises a filter tray that is movable between an open and a closed position, the filter tray configure to receive the filter. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary fan or pump is located downstream of said filter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary fan or pump located upstream of said filter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the CPAP hose, wherein a first end of the CPAP hose is configured to be fluidly coupled to an outlet of the sanitizing gas generator and the CPAP hose is configured to be secured to the base such that a second end of the CPAP hose is in fluid communication with the sanitizing chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the base is configured to form a seal with an intermediate portion of the CPAP hose when the lid is transitioned from the open lid position to the closed lid position. 
     
     
         12 . A sanitizing system, comprising:
 a base including a sanitizing chamber, wherein the sanitizing chamber comprises at least one exhaust port;   a sanitizing gas generator configured to generate a sanitizing gas, the sanitizing gas generator located within the base;   primary fan or pump located within the base and configured to push or draw at least a portion of the sanitizing gas from the sanitizing gas generator through a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) hose to the sanitizing chamber; and   a secondary fan or pump located within the base and configured to push or draw gas within the sanitizing chamber through the at least one exhaust port and outside of the sanitizing chamber when the sanitizing chamber is sealed.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further including a filter, wherein the secondary fan or pump located is downstream of said filter. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further including a filter, wherein the secondary fan or pump is located upstream of said filter. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the CPAP hose, wherein a first end of the CPAP hose is configured to be fluidly coupled to an outlet of the sanitizing gas generator and the CPAP hose is configured to be secured to the sanitizing system such that a second end of the CPAP hose is in fluid communication with the sanitizing chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sanitizing system is configured to form a seal with an intermediate portion of the CPAP hose when the sanitizing chamber is sealed. 
     
     
         17 . A sanitizing system, comprising:
 a base including a sanitizing chamber, wherein the sanitizing chamber comprises at least one exhaust port;   sanitizing gas generator configured to generate a sanitizing gas, the sanitizing gas generator located within the base;   an outlet configured to fluidly couple a first end of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) hose to the sanitizing gas generator;   a passageway configured to be secured to the CPAP hose such that a second end of the CPAP hose is in fluid communication with the sanitizing chamber;   a primary fan or pump located within the base and configured to push or draw at least a portion of the sanitizing gas from the sanitizing gas generator through the CPAP hose to the sanitizing chamber; and   a secondary fan or pump located within the base and configured to push or draw gas within the sanitizing chamber through the at least one exhaust port and outside of the sanitizing chamber when the sanitizing chamber is sealed.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a filter, wherein the secondary fan or pump is located downstream of said filter. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a filter, wherein the secondary fan or pump is located upstream of said filter. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sanitizing system is configured to form a seal with an intermediate portion of the CPAP hose when the sanitizing chamber is sealed.